Many people moving to Southern California have a desire to own a waterfront home. Who wouldn't...if you can afford it.

Oceanfront property is a premium and even small or modest fixers will cost you big bucks for the opportunity to having nothing between you and the vast ocean. While there are certainly trade-offs for living right by the ocean - frequent fog and marine layers, damage from erosion, increased weather and salt-air related wear and tear on the home, cooler temperatures, and so on - the allure of the vast sea and the views, for many, make a waterfront home worthwhile.

So what can you buy in Carlsbad (link is to community profile, photos and virtual tours) that is waterfront?

Interestingly, because of where the coastal highway runs, and due to the terrain, there are actually not a lot of homes that are true waterfront. A number of them are across the Coast Highway (Route 101) from the ocean, so there are still terrific views, but you cannot simply walk out your door onto the beach. And homes that are bluff top do not have easy access, and in some case the unstable bluffs make building impossible.

There are a number of properties that offer from great views and, due to their location back from the bluffs, are actually less prone to the vagaries of ocean-front living than those that are located directly on the water. In Carlsbad Village there are a good number of homes and condos (many of the latter are vacation rentals) along Ocean Street that afford you the opportunity to walk out the door to the beach, or perhaps to a nearby stairway down to the beach. Keep in mind that these are all very close together to there is little privacy. But what views. One recent home there sold for $3.8 million, and a $7 million home sold in mid-2006; a 1364 SF condo with 3 Bedrooms was on the market for around $2.5 million but did not sell. There is nothing on this street currently on the market.

South of the village along the 101 there is an area on Tierra Del Oro Street (21 homes) and Shore Drive (33 homes) which are small enclaves that are direct waterfront, but nothing on the market at the moment, and there rarely is.

In the same area, however, there are two wonderful homes on the east side of the Coast Highway that have great ocean views (but there is the road and an expanse of land between you and the bluff top), but no direct access to the ocean. These homes (3 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths) are priced at $2.95 - $3.3 million (top right photo), and $2.995 million (top left photo) respectively.

A bit further south along the coast road are several gated complexes of tract homes (Hanover Beach Colony, Water's Edge for example) that offer some properties right along the road (bottom left photo) that have views as well, with a relatively easy walk to the beach, but with the road, bushes and the camping area of South Carlsbad State Beach between you and the sea. These homes are usually priced between $900K and $1.4 million.

Stay tuned for more articles on buying waterfront property in North County San Diego. If I can provide more information (such as about the homes listed above), answer any questions, or assist you with your real estate needs in the San Diego area, please feel free to let me know.